AFP - Russia on Friday denied holding discussions with other nations on a political transformation in its Soviet-era Syria that would include the departure of President Bashar al-Assad.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also stressed that Russia would insist on Iran joining any future international talks on the crisis.

Lavrov was speaking just a day after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns in Kabul for talks that Washington described as "constructive."

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had earlier on Friday also mentioned discussing a post-Assad Syria with Russia.

Lavrov's denial was aimed at US media reports. Apparently some US diplomats were idiots to leak it to the media.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}